Garbage grinder control mechanism



June 16, 1953 Filed April 22. 1947 J. DREW; GARBAGE GRINDER CONTROL MECHANISM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 7 I 27 32 9 5 25 E QF 24 '8 I as as n Q I' 3 3e so 33 26 so 23 t 35 h a4 a 3e INVENTOR. J-O/l/V DREW BY kiwi i e 1953 I J. DREW 2,642,232

- GARBAGE GRINDER CONTROL MECHANISM Filed April 22', 1947 Q 2 She'ts-Shegt 2 INVEN TOR. JOHN DREW BY -"5 9- 7 M ni h/A 4 ATTOEIVEXS.

Patented June '16, 1953 V UNITED srAT-ss eAiifiAs classes metastases f isih' 34 s corporationof Ohio K tQQh Lfi achinery Company, Akron," Ohio; at

stint-ass Assn 22, 194?, sea-5i N 715615 The P e ntibn is pr mar l -.Qon .er with a garbage grinder c ontrol mechanism of u form ti he gri din -ap arat s is rendered completely inoperative wheneyer the a drain opening of the sinl i with which the waste re ceiving v o h erinsier ngm n a 1 q is c v re bmh er m val' elstraf n and stopper assembly thereirrom as, for;;exanin V v.

This invention is ,further concernedwith a control m c sme hiq m hatthe Hop er.- ating of the grinding apparatus ispgnditioned upon both t vs per-i a sembly bein -properly positioned in the dis ha ppenine ,9f t e sin and the valve c ated withsaiw er' supply" i leading t rs si k be n sropen' o perm t r, H1 2 ch cavity for subsequent grinding,- shredding and water to flowinto the sink and into the. waste receiving cavity of thegrinding apparatus;

Control mechanisms. .capable: or; functioning generally as aforesaid are'disclosed; in;JameS;.I-I.-

Powers Patents 2,135,037, c lz-aiagoz which;-

issued on Dec. 26, l93 9- and;June 3, 19411, respectively, However, it will become; apparent.- from the ensuing description;that the,i rindinggapparatus, while under the controlof ;a; ,removable S p r ss mbly,.. is herein r nder d Operative and inoperative respectively simply by inserting and removing. vsaid ,stoppernassembly vfrom'ithe discharge opening of the sink without requiring any relative rotativemovements of the perforate members constituting said: stopper assembly subsequent to insertion of said-assembly into such discharge opening andprio'r toremovalof the same. t t Another advantage of the present cbntrol mechanism is that it;ist of suchiformj that; it

is virtually impossible to render the grinding apparatus operative whilesaid stoppers assembly is out of such discharge openingythereby avoiding the possibility of injuryyto-th'e hand: of

the operator when reachingintothe waste ;receiving cavity. t v v Other objects and, advantages 10f this, :iriven tion will become apparent'as the-following description proceeds. H

To the accomplishment ofthe foregoing-and related ends; said inventionthemcomprisesthe features hereinafter fully described; and particularly pointed out in the clai ns the; follo ing description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certai illustrative ern dil tso thei ve i ma iee. b in m however, of but a few of the var'io it a on t V e use i t fl beslahd ,qa r eq way to a we from A garbage v gr nder? operatin "draiii bpi 7 ng apparatus ttfi'gizjdfiae form of stopper as- Fig. 5B isan elevation view or; th lstopper assembly as viewed from the left-hand side of Fig.

n. a waterw upplly l n f1 ;v perm "water to flowinto the sinle n61 up n pr per insertion of the o per.a. ssemb yi nde eqn e ve i h n closing of said valve or removal of said stopper assembly. I

R n n w.,. q ther-ilrr w inaw .v fi to Fig .'-1',; the re;i s shown the the dis harge openins; por pp t s nk 1 a i qmi ih i a arbaeeer n er .Qrtw minuti p tu generally indicated I by the numeral 2 Said apt s .i ov. qed W he .wstflrfiirie t l.- ity .3. withint h i saimrl er 9;. needbran electr .meter. ri t rera et m i ute ef s dep si ed-t nts avi y. 3d hfihe a stafi 9 w r flowing cav ty zi-t romrthe. n ;f 9h

d ed: cpns u xanqi paratus is nil 1v,v ex ained c ti n, Ser a It 130930 ,Q A etal.',- filed Feb; 26, :194'7,r;now abandoned,- of

which I aim-one. ofsthecg-inye ors: .:v H ,g r Th qqnn c i n. hew en inklluand. a paratu 2 i he ein illu t ed; Y I I s 1e. 3991. 1 .7 av ng: rneskn-n iqn a in downw rd r u h the rd se ia yv Q if W Idly 1P a se 0 wi s 9 th? shkandi'a tially spaced bolts 8, having threaded engagement with apparatus 2, are operative to urge an annular sealing gasket 9 into sealed engagement with both the bottom surface of the sink and the outer surface of the neck portion of collar 1. In order to obtain uniform clamping pressure around the entire sink opening, a metal ring In is interposed between gasket 9 and the heads of bolts 8.

Before discussing in detail the structure of the stopper assemblies herein illustrated and the manner in which they render the motor 5 of the comminuting apparatus operative and inoperative, referencewill be made to the piping and wiring diagrams of Figs. 6 and 7. In Fig. 6 there are two valves H and 12, each of which has its out-fall side leading to the sink either separately or else as shown throughthe common discharge spout I3, valve ll being connected to a hot water supply line It and the valve i2 being connected to a cold water supply line 15.

Connected in the cold water line l5 ahead of valve 12 is a flow responsive device 16 which is in the nature of a check valve having a valve member i! therein movable away from its seat in response to the pressuredifferential caused by 'opening of the'valve i2.

Said valve member I1 is moved into engagement with its-seat in 'response to closing of thevalve i2 and the resulting equalization of the pressures on opposite sides of said valve member.

"member 11 moves upwardly away from its seat,

When valve the engagement of the upper end therein with a pivoted lever and arm assembly 18 efiects rotation of such arm assembly in a direction peri 'mitting closing of switch-l9 which is in series with motor 5. A switch 20 also in series with 'motor 5 is operated in a manner as will be described by the proper placing of one of the novel stopper assemblies illustrated in Figs. 2-513 into the sink opening.

From Fig. 6 it will be apparent that the motor 5 is rendered operative only when both switches i9 and 20 are closed and inoperative when either or both of said switches are opened. In the fpresent case switch I9 can only be closed when water is actually flowing through the flow responsive device l6 through the valve l2 into the sink and switch 20 can onlybe closed when the stopper assembly is properly positioned in the switch when valve [2 is turned on and off; Here again, as in Fig. 6, the motor 5 of the comminut- 'ing apparatus 2' can only be operated when both of the switches l9 and 20 are closed, such closing 'being effected by opening of valve l2 to permit water to now into the sink and properly inserting the stopper assembly into the sink opening.

' It is to be understood that the flow responsive device it and switch [9 in Fig. 6 or cam 22% and switch is in Fig. 7 may be omitted altogether, if desired, to thus render the motor 5 operative and inoperative simply by opening and closing switch 20; Also, if desired, the valve 12 and the flow responsive device 16 maybe piped in parallel with cold water line IS, in which case another valve may be installed'in line IE to permit water to flow into the sink without effecting closing of switch I9. Such modification is disclosed in copending application Serial No. 743,398, filed April 23, 1947, by Paul A. Frank.

In the stopper assembly shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the collar 7 is formed with an inturned flange 23 at its lower end which is adapted to be engaged by the out-turned flange 2 formed on the upper perforated member 25 of the stopper assembly, such engagement of the flanges functioning as a stopjwhen said assembly is inserted into the sink opening. Said member 25 is formed with a cylindrical recess into which fits the lower perforate member 26, said members being rotatable relative to one another to selectively open and close communication between the sink i and the waste receiving cavity 3 of the comminuting apparatus when said stopper assembly in the sink opening. Said members 25 and 26 are rotated relative-to one another by means of a handle 2? which has its downwardly depending legs 23 extending through the segmental openings 23 in the upper member 25 and secured as b screws 36 to the segmental arms 3! of the lower member 23. A spring 32 fitted into a downwardly opening recess in handle 21 is operative through a disc 33 pressed against the upper surface of member 25 by said spring to urge the abutting faces of members 25 and 26 into encavity 3 of coinminuting apparatus 2. The upper member 25 is formed with a longitudinally extending projection 34 which, as will be seen, is operative to actuate the switch 23 mounted on one side of the upper portion of the housing of the comminuting apparatus 2 when the stopper assembly is properly inserted into the sink opening.

Fitted into a bore through the side wall of apparatus 2 is abushing member 35 which has its longitudinal axis disposed radially of the sink opening and which has reciprocably mounted therein a pin 36 which is suitably sealed in the bushing as by a packing ring 31 of synthetic rubber or like material. The outer end of said pin 36 is attached to a cantilever spring member 38 which has one end thereof attached as by a screw 39 to the housing of the comminuting ap- The other end of spring member 38 is adapted to engage the push button of switch 20 in such a manner that when said pin 36 is shifted radially outward of the sink opening, said switch is closed and then, upon release of the force which so moves the pin, the spring member 38 will be efiective to movesaid pin radially inward, the movement of spring member 38 permitting opening of switch 28. The rounded inner end of said pin 36 projects part way, as indicated by the dotted line of Fig. 3, into a bore transverse of the bushing 35 and parallel to the axis of the sink opening, such bore being adapted to receive the projection 35 on the stopper assembly. It is thus apparent that when the stopper assembly is positioned in the sink opening so that the projection 34 enters the bore in the bushing, the pin 36 will be forced radiall outward to efiect closing of switch 28 as' just described and likewise, upon removal of the stopper assembly from the sink opening, the projection 34 will be withdrawn from 's'uch bushing borewherebylspriiig member 38 will be operative to permit. opening of switch 20. With the arrangement shown,- the switch 20 cannot be accidentally closed to start. motor because the transverse bore in the bushing is so small that even an infants fingers. cannot be. inserted thereinto to actuate pin 36.

When the stopper assembly is used to render the comminuting apparatus operative, as just explained, the three dots 40 on the flange of collar i on member 25. and on handle 2"! should be in alignment, as shown in Fig, 2, whereupon water may freely flow from the sink into thewaste. re-

ceiving cavity 3. As. previously described, the valve I2 in Figs. 6 and 7 must. be opened before motor 5 can be started.

When it is desired to. use. the sink in its: ordinary manner without operating the comminuting apparatus, the stopper assembly is. positioned in the sink opening so. that projection 34 thereon does not enter the. transverse bore of bushing 35. In such case the members 25 and 26 of the stopper assembly may be rotated relative to. one another to either close or open communication between the sink and the waste receiving cavity 3 as desired, it then being impossible to start motor 5'.

Referring now to the stopper assembly of Figs. 4, 5, 5A, and 53 wherein the partssi'milar to those shown in Figs. 2 and- 3 are indicated'by like numerals, the inturned flange 23 of collar l is interrupted at two circumferentially spaced points 23A and 23B and members25' and 25 are each provided with a protuberance- M and '42, respectively, of such shape that the stopper assemblycan only be positioned into the sink opening when such protuberances are in alignment with one another-and in register-with one or the other of the interruptions 23A or- 233 in flange 23. Furthermore, such protuberances are arranged so that when they are in alignment the flow openings through the stopper assembly are maximum. In such position the legs 28 of handle 21 engage the adjacent edges of the segmental openings in upper member 25 to function as a stop to limit relative rotation ofmem-bers; 25 and 26 to a position wherein such protuberances are in alignment.

When the stopper assembly is lowered from the position in- Fig. 5A and positioned in the sink opening to the on position; as shown in 4 and 5, the projection will; as described in relation to Figs. 2 and 3, efiectradial outward shifting of pin 36 to close switch .0. In this position both of the members 25 and 26; are nonrotatably locked in the sink opening-by engagement of protuberances 41' and 42 withone notch in flange 23- and also by engagement of projection 34 in the opening in member 35' whereby itis, not possible to close the flow openings. through. the stopper assembly and thus operate the commin ne pa atus. without. an wate fl h re hr gh, When it is desired to render the omminu ing a paratus. inoperativ all that, it s. eces ary to do. is to long tud nally withdraw e t per ass bly thus ef ect withdrawal of e roject on. 34' fr m hehusbing-I 5' 'and th o s quent openingof. the switch 20- On the other hand, when it is desired touse the sink in its usual manner without efiecting starting of motor 5, the stopper assembly is simply positioned in the sink opening so that theprotuberances 4| and 42 are. at the position marked f. In su h asetheengagem nt of-pr tuberance 4| with the nterrupted nortionzsnof the urned flansezs, ser es; to nep-rq atab r lea mama: in the slnkppening' and in such Desition the. protuberance. 42 is clear of such interruption,'whereupon member 26 maybe rotated to. any-position between offand "seal. Such rotationic'f member 26. operates to. lock the entire stopper assembly against longitudinal withdrawal from the. sink. In such rotated position of member 28, the protuberance. 42 underlies the flange 23 so. that: the stopper assembly is locked against withdrawal from the sink, Removal of the stopper assembly can only be effected by rotating member. until its protuberance 42 is in alignment withrprotuberance M and. the interrupted portion 233 in'the inturned flange 23.

Handle 21 is preferably provided with an arrow 43 thereon which cooperates with markings on the flange. of collar 1 to indicate the on and off positions of thecomminu-ting apparatus. .in which case-the. flow openings through the stopper assembly are fully opened and. the seal position ofthe stopper; assembly in which case the flow openings through the stopper assembly are closed and the motor 5; is not in operation.

Byway of summary; it can be. seen that with either form of stopper assembly herein disclosed the comminuting apparatus is rendered operative. and-inoperative simply by longitudinally insorting the stopper assembly into the. sink opening and longitudinally removing the stopper as:- sembly from the sink opening. In another position of the stopper assembly insertion. and removal of the stopper assembly has. no effect on the operationot the comminuting apparatus;

Other modes of applying the principle. of the invention may be employed, change. being made as: regards the details described, provided the features stated. in any of the following claims or the equivalent of such be employed.

I- therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a comminuting apparatus provided with a. passage leading thereinto, such passage being radiallyconstricted adjacent its outer end to form a seat, a comminuting memberin such passage inward of such seat, a motor for driving said member, and a switch inwardly adjacent such seat controlling energization of said motor, of an actuator for said switch selectively'insertableaxially into such passagein any'ofa plurality-of rotative positions,

"said actu'ator-- being provided with a radially projecting-flange forming a seat engageable with theseat in such passage and with a. cam portion clearing said switch in one rotative; position and engaging andx'actuating; said switch in another rotative. position, saidv actuator compr a p of adjacent relat vely rota abl disk mem f rmedw th p ni gs therethrouah in: and u of registry with one-another in accordance with the the protuberance ofthe other of said members when said members are in a position with the openings therethrough in registry, one of such notches being formed to embrace the aligned protuberances of said actuator in one rotative positionofithelatter and thereby lock said memhers; against; relative rotation. to 5 a. position. with suchzopeningsiout;ofrregistrm..

2. The combination with a comminuting apparatus provided with a passage leading thereinto, such passage being radially constricted adjacent its outer end to form a seat, a comminuting member in such passage inward of such seat, a motor for driving said member, and a switch inwardly adjacent such seat controlling energization of said motor, of an actuator for said switch selectively insertable axially into such passage inany of a plurality of rotative positions, .said actuator being provided with a radiallyprojecting flange iorminga seat engageable with the seat in such passage and with a cam portion clearing said switch in one rotative position and engaging and actuating said switch in another rotative position, saidactuator comprisinga pair of adjacent relatively rotatable disk members formed with openings therethrough in and. out oi-registry with one another in accordance with the relative rotative positions of said members, and a handle for relatively rotating said members including a leg projecting through the opening in one of said members and connected to the otheroi said members, the seat in such passage including a pair of circumferentially spaced notches, and each of said members including a corresponding protuberance which is aligned with theprotuberance of the other of said members when said members are in a position with the openings 'therethrough in registry, one of such notches being formed to embrace the .aligned protuberances of said actuator in one rotative position or" the latter and thereby lock said members against relative rotation to a position with such openings out of registry, and the other of such notches being formed to embrace .the protuberance on said one of said members and to clear the protuberance on said other of said members in a different rotative position of said actuator whereby the latter member may be rotated relative to the former member to a position with such openings in said members out of registry with one another.

3. The combination with a comminuting apparatus provided with a passage leading thereinto, such passage being radially constricted adjacent its outer end to form a seat, a comminuting member in such passage inward of such seat, a motor for driving said member, and a switch inwardly adjacent such seat controlling energization of said motor, of an actuator for said switch selectively insertable axially into such passage in any of a plurality of rotative positions, said actuator being provided with a radially projecting flange forming a seat engageable with the seat in such passage and with a cam portion clearing said switch in one rotative position and engaging and actuating said switch in another rotative position, said actuator comprising a pair of adjacent relatively rotatable disk members formed with openings therethrough in and out of registry with one another in accordance with the relative rotative positions of said members, and means for relatively rotating said members, the seat in such passage including a pair oi circumierentially spaced notches, and each of said members including a corresponding protuberance which is aligned with the protuberance of the other of said members when said members are in a position with the openings therethrough in registry, one of such notches being formed to embrace the aligned protuberances of said actuator in one rotative position of. the latter and thereby lock all) enga es 8 said members against relative rotation to a position with such openings out of registry.

4. The combination with a comminuting apparatus provided with a passage leading thereinto, such passage being radially constricted adjacent its outer end to form a seat, a comminuting member in such passage inward of such seat, a motor for driving said member, and a switch inwardly adjacent such seat controlling energization of said motor, of an actuator for said switch selectively insertable axially into such passage in any of a plurality of rotative positions, said actuator being provided with a radially projecting flange forming a seat engageable with the seat in such passage and with a cam portion clearing said switch in one rotative position and engaging and actuating said switch in another rotative position, said actuator comprising a pair of adjacent relatively rotatable disk members formed with openings therethrough in and out of registry with one another in accordance with the relative rotative positions of said members, and means for relatively rotating said members, the seat in such passage including a pair or circumferentially spaced notches, and each of said members including a corresponding protuberance which is aligned with the protuberance oi the other of said members when said members are in a position with the openings therethrough in registry, one of such notches being formed to embrace the aligned protuberances of said actuator in one rotative position of the the latter and thereby lock said members against relative rotation toa position with such openings cut of registry, and the other of such notches being formed to embrace the protuberance on one of said members and to clear the protuberance on the other of said members in a different rotative position of said actuator whereby the latter member may be rotated relative to the former member to a position with such openings in said members out of registry with one another.

5. The combination with a comminuting apparatus formed with a passage therethrough providing at one end an inlet for the introduction of refuse to be comminuted and at the other end an outlet for the discharge of comminuted refuse, a comminuting member movable in such passage,- a motor for driving said member, and a switch controlling energization of said motor, of an actuator for said switch selectively insertable axially into such passage at the inlet end thereof in any of a plurality of rotative positions, said actuator constituting the inlet closure for said apparatus and being provided with drain openings for flow of water into said apparatus, said actuator including a prong projecting therefrom in the direction of axial insertion of said actuator into such passage, and a member in said apparatus extending radially into such passage and provided with an opening disposed parallel to such prong and of a cross- ;section size to preclude insertion of an infants fingers thereinto, such prong extending into such opening in .one, rotative position of said actuator in such passage, and a switch operating element having. an end portion extending transversely into such opening and embraced by the portion of said member which surrounds such opening to thereby render said element inaccessible for operating said switch except through such opening, said element being engaged and 'moved by such prong when the latter is inserted into such opening as aforesaid for thereby operating said-switch and energizing said motor.

6. The combination with a comminuting apparatus formed with a passage therethrough providing at one end an inlet for the introduction of refuse to be comminuted and at the other end an outlet for the discharge of comminuted refuse, a comminuting member movable in such passage, a motor for driving said member, and a switch controlling energization of said motor, of an actuator for said switch selectively insertable axially into such passage at the inlet end thereof in any of a plurality of rotative positions, said actuator including a cam portion clearing said switch in one rotative position and engaging and actuating said switch inanother rotative position, said actuator comprising a pair of relatively movable members operative when said actuator is in such passage to open and close communication between opposite sides of said actuator, means for locking said members in open position against relative movement to closed position and non-rotatably locking said actuator in such passage upon insertion of said actuator into such passage to engage and actuate said switch and for locking said actuator from axial withdrawal from such passage upon relative movement of the members thereof from open toward closed position after said actuator has been inserted into such passage to clear said switch, said last-named means comprising an inturned flange providing a seat for said actuator, which flange is formed with a pair of cirsaid protuberances and notches being so dimen- 10 cumferentially spaced notches axially thereof, and a protuberance on each of said members,

sioned that in said one rotative position, both protuberances are embraced by one said notch to lock said members in open position against relative movement to closed position and further dimensioned so that in the position of said actuator clearing said switch, the other notch embraces but one of said protuberances whereby JOHN DREW.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,185,037 Powers Dec. 26, 1939 2,220,729 Powers Nov. 5, 1940 2,244,402 Powers June 3, 1941 2,428,420 Green Oct. 7, 1947 2,477,686 Coss Aug. 2, 1949 2,484,459 Osborn Oct. 11. 1949 

